Running head: SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL HEALTH

Select a mental health or crisis intervention human service delivery system within criminal justice,
such as a domestic violence program within a police department.
Write a 1,050- to 1,400-word paper about your selected system in which you address the following:
Describe the services provided by your selected mental health or crisis intervention human
service delivery system.
Describe the general characteristics and skills needed to effectively deliver mental health
and crisis intervention services.
How do the characteristics, skills, and actions needed by an agent of the government differ
from those skills needed by social workers or practitioners in mental health?

Skills and characteristics of Mental Health

CJS/410
The University of Phoenix

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL HEALTH

Skills and characteristics of Mental Health

Human Services Workers are one of the hardest working individuals
in the world. Human Services Workers deal with all types of people, and
they exist all over the world. Some of their clients include people with drug
addictions, alcohol addictions, abused woman, abused children, and the
mentally disabled. Without the work of human services workers, many
different groups of people would lack the services they need to survive.
This paper will describe a mental health human service delivery system
within the criminal justice. This paper will describe the services provided by
The King county Mental health court. This paper will describe the general
characteristics and skills needed to deliver mental health services
effectively to the mentally ill population in King County Washington. This
paper will also describe the characteristics, skills, and actions needed by a
mental health human service worker and how they differ from agents of the
Government.
Describe the services provided by The King County District Court
Mental Health Court.
According to "King County District Court Services" (2014), The King
County District Court Mental Health Court was established over 10 years
ago, to help better serve the community by addressing public safety,
reducing criminalization of persons with mental illness, and promoting
systems integration. The Mental Health Court represents an effort to

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL HEALTH

Increase effective cooperation between two systems that have

traditionally not worked closely together - the mental health treatment
system and the criminal justice system.
The project hopes to achieve the following outcomes for the mentally
ill misdemeanant population: faster case processing time, improved access
to public mental health treatment services, improved well-being, and
reduced recidivism. An important outcome to be achieved from this
program for the larger community is improved public safety.
Describe the general characteristics and skills needed to deliver
mental health services effectively.
There are a few characteristics that a mental health service worker
must possess in order to be efficient. Some of Those characteristics include
a desire to help others, attention to detail, emotional and mental strengths.
In my personal opinion, the desire to help others is one of the most
important characteristics. The author believes that if a person does not
have the desire or want to help others, then they would not succeed in this
field. Additionally, if the desire to help others is not present, then not only
will the mental health worker suffer, but so will the mentally ill people
seeking and needing assistance.
If a mental service worker lacks in their desire to help the mentally ill
then, it will show in their attitude and behavior. It is imperative to possess
this quality so that the people in need receive the quality care that they

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL HEALTH

need and deserve. If the worker does not have this characteristic, then they
will lack in all other areas.
Since mental health services workers interact with all types of
people, it is necessary that the worker be alert and pay close attention to
detail that the client may not divulge. For example, it is hard for an abused
child or an abused woman to share all of the details about their abuser. In
many cases, it is because of fear. Whatever the case may be, it is
important that all mental health services workers pay close attention to
detail in any situation. Another example where this would be important
would be when a mental health services worker is helping a physically and
mentally disabled person. In some cases, a disabled person cannot
express their desires. Sometimes a family member may be trying to help,
but the client is still unhappy. However, the client may show signs of what
they want or need to make them more comfortable. If the worker is paying
close attention, they can catch these signs and make decisions effectively.
The author has learned that it is also crucial for the mental health
services workers to take care of themselves. Dedicated workers can get so
involved in their work that they can become burnt out. It is important that
the worker takes care of them. If a person becomes worn out, it could affect
the way in which they interact with and help their client. In a sense, they
can become mentally ill while helping the mentally ill if they are not
constantly mentally and physically strong. With that being said, the worker
should ensure that they are mentally and emotionally strong to handle this

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL HEALTH

type of work. Furthermore, they should ensure that they do not act out of
emotion.
While we all have our biases and beliefs, this should not affect the job
at hand. It may be a good idea to seek some consultative services to learn
how to deal with such biases.
How do the characteristics, skills, and actions needed by an agent of
the government differ from those skills needed by social workers?
According to "Social Workers in Government Agencies" (ND), Social
workers are key employees in federal, state, and local government
agencies. Social workers may work on-site at a government agency; at a
non-governmental agency whose client base is generated from their
relationship with a government agency; or in a contracting relationship as
independent consultants.
The differences between characteristics, skills, and actions of a social
service worker are not very many; in fact, they are similar in most ways but
one. An agent for the Government, primary concerns are to uphold and
enforce the laws of the constitution. The social workers main focus is to
help the client and make sure the client constitutional rights are not being
violated. For example, in a correctional setting the government agent would
be a guard and their duty is to maintain order, provide safety and prevent
escape. The social workers duty would be to help the client get the services
they need to return to the community and live a productive life. The guard

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL HEALTH

authority will always override and social workers authority because of

safety issues within prisons.
In conclusion, mental health and social Services Workers are
hardworking individuals. It is important they possess certain characteristics
and skills that will help them be successful in the field of human and health
services. Those characteristics and skills include a desire to help others,
attention to detail, emotional and mental strengths, good communication
skills and creative thinking and resolution skills.
Each of the skills and characteristics is pertinent in effectively helping
the many clients that workers come in contact with on a regular basis. The
author feels that he does possess all of the skills and characteristics
required to be a successful human services worker, but also feels that the
field can improve in many areas. The King County Mental health courts are
a step in the right direction to help address the needs and problems with
our mentally ill population. Every county in America needs to implement the
same type of a court system in order to help the mentally ill and separate
them from the rest of the prison population.

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTAL HEALTH

References

King county District Court Services. (2014). Retrieved from

http://www.kingcounty.gov/courts/DistrictCourt/MentalHealthCourt.aspx
Social Workers in Government Agencies. (ND). Retrieved from
http://workforce.socialworkers.org/studies/profiles/Government
%20Agencies.pdf